Which POE is best??

[Dad of 3]

Once she gets her visa, my wife and daughter will be coming from the Philippines. I live on the east coast. I have two questions:

1. Can anyone share their POE experience from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Houston and Atlanta (as those are my choices for entry points to the US from overseas)? Which POE seems to be less hassle on the arriving fiancée/spouse and which one seems to be quickest.

2. When the US Citizen spouse/fiancée are on the incoming flight with the K visa holder, does it seem to matter as far as how easy things are and how the non US citizen is treated?

I would surely appreciate anyone sharing their experience with me. Thanks!

[Dad of 3]

Once she gets her visa, my wife and daughter will be coming from the Philippines. I live on the east coast. I have two questions:

1. Can anyone share their POE experience from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Houston and Atlanta (as those are my choices for entry points to the US from overseas)? Which POE seems to be less hassle on the arriving fiancée/spouse and which one seems to be quickest.

2. When the US Citizen spouse/fiancée are on the incoming flight with the K visa holder, does it seem to matter as far as how easy things are and how the non US citizen is treated?

I would surely appreciate anyone sharing their experience with me. Thanks!

[Cayita]

I honestly dont think there is a difference. I came last year with a K-1 visa and my POE was Atlanta. The personel was very nice and helpful. They really didnt asked me much (just wanted to see my sealed package and take my fingreprints). I had come to the US 5 times before that (with a turist visa) through different POE and no one has asked me anything more than "how long are you staying".

It really doesnt matter. All POE have the same policy (the INS is a federal institucion that gives guidelines to everyone). I am sure no one will treat you spouse in a bad way.

[sab34]

Dad of 3

Kabayan: All POE are the same, use the nearest Aiport.

[Dad of 3]

Kayita and Sab34:

What you all wrote was what I had originally thought. Then I saw some indication that in some airports people are all put into a separate room and processed all together, other airports personnel is especially unfriendly, etc.

If others don't mind sharing their experiences and knowledge...I think it would help in my decision.

[Julie]

With that line of thinking any surgeon should know how to practice all types of surgery. To save on brain surgery, you can use your OB/GYN when you get that craniotomy. Just keep that in mind when you need a surgeon.

[Cayita]

Julie,

I totally agree with you. I am a lawyer (from a foreign law school so I can not practice here). I am especialized in intellectual property and corporate law. I know the basic of criminal and tax law and absolutely nothing about agricultural or enviormental law. It would take 50 years for someone to learn about all areas of a single career (if not more). lawyers constanly ask their colleges about the law, the same way doctors consult each other about medical problems.

[Dad of 3]

Thank you Julie and Cayita...I dont think I could have put it better.

"Just a Thought of Mine" is correct, I am an attorney and said so in a response to Swissnut. Based on his/her comment, Just a Thought of Mine probably does not know about the email that Swissnut and I exchanged. If he had, he would have known that I DO NOT practice immigration law. He also would have known that my information in my pasts posts and replies are based SOLELY upon my OWN personal experiences and what I learned about K Visa immigration when I went through part of the immigration process with my ex wife who came to the US on a K1 visa. I know next to nothing about any other type of visa or immigration issues.

Having said that, I still hope others will be kind enough to share experiences about different POEs in this thread.

[Julie]

Hiya Dad: Below is a post from another immigration board (Global 7) regarding Houston POE


My fiance arrived at Houston POE on 5-21-03 along with about 700 other people who arrived at the same time on two separate flights. There are three lines at the international termainal for Houston immigration inspections:

1. The group of lines on the far left is for US citizens with about 300 people who took forever.
2. The group of lines in the middle is for non-US citizens with about 400 people who had non-immigrant visas and who took twice as long as forever.
3. The line on the far right is for non-US citizens with immigrant visas such as K-1. This line had three people in it. We were number two and got through immigration in less than ten minutes, five of which were spent waiting for number one to get processed. They looked in the brown envelope, looked at k-1 visa in passport, inserted I-94 and stamped it for employment and said welcome to america.

Customs did not look at any luggage.